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Dessert Masters
Dessert Masters
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Dessert Masters
Also known asMasterChef: Dessert Masters
Genre
Judges
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes20
Production
Production locationMelbourne
Camera setupMulti-camera
Production companyEndemol Shine Australia
Original release
NetworkNetwork 10
Release12 November 2023 (2023-11-12) –
present
Related

Dessert Masters, also known as MasterChef: Dessert Masters, is an Australian cooking reality show produced by Endemol Shine Australia which premiered on 12 November 2023 on Network 10.[1] It is a spin-off of MasterChef Australia, itself an adaptation of the British MasterChef, and sees ten professional pastry chefs competing for a $100,000 prize. Former MasterChef Australia judge Melissa Leong and international pastry chef Amaury Guichon feature as judges.[2]

Dessert Masters was announced at Network 10's upfronts in October 2022.[3] Before the first series premiered, a second series was also commissioned for 2024, with Leong and Guichon returning.[4] Series two premiered on 14 October 2024.

Format and reception

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The competition follows a similar structure to MasterChef Australia, with challenges testing technical skills, creativity, and time management under high-pressure conditions. Contestants are required to produce restaurant-quality desserts, ranging from plated dishes to large-scale showpieces. The show has been praised for elevating pastry arts in mainstream television, with critics highlighting Guichon’s expertise and the contestants’ innovation.[5]

Contestants

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Series 1

[edit]

The full cast for the first series was announced on 4 June 2023.[2][6]

Contestant Status
Gareth Whitton Winner 28 November
Reynold Poernomo Runner-up 28 November
Jess Liemantara Third place 28 November
Kay-Lene Tan Eliminated 27 November
Kirsten Tibballs
Andy Bowdy Eliminated 26 November
Anna Polyviou
Adriano Zumbo Eliminated 21 November
Morgan Hipworth Eliminated 19 November
Rhiann Mead Eliminated 14 November

Series 2

[edit]

Part of the cast for the second series was announced in May 2024 then the rest of the cast was announced on 15 August 2024.[7]

Contestant Status
John Demetrios Winner 24 November
Emelia Jackson Runner-up 24 November
Christy Tania Third place 24 November
Reece Hignell Eliminated 18 November
Jana Lai
Alisha Henderson Eliminated 17 November
Darren Purchese
Dan Pasquali Eliminated 11 November
Donato Toce Eliminated 4 November
Katherine Sabbath Eliminated 28 October

Episodes and ratings

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Colour key:
  – Highest rating during the series
  – Lowest rating during the series

Series 1

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Ep#/Wk-Ep# Original airdate Episode title / event Total viewers (five metro cities) Nightly ranking
Week 1
1/01-1 Sunday, 12 November 2023 Series Premiere: Your Dessert Masterpiece Immunity Pin Challenge — Ten of the best pastry chefs in Australia gathered in the MasterChef kitchen for the inaugural season of Dessert Masters, where they would compete for the Dessert Masters title and $100,000. In their first challenge, they were tasked with creating a dessert masterpiece, a dish describing themselves, in three hours. Kirsten took the risk of making a pistachio and raspberry entremet, despite Amaury saying that he would not do that in this particular challenge. Her risk paid off and her dessert was among the top three, while Andy's roasted fennel cake impressed the judges. However, Reynold's "Monochrome" was deemed flawless by Melissa, and Reynold won the first and only immunity pin of the season. Like in Masterchef Australia, the pin could save him from elimination at any point, up until the semi final. 477,000 #6[8]
2/01-2 Monday, 13 November 2023 Deception Immunity Challenge — Amaury showed off some of his desserts, which looked real but were made with chocolate. The chefs had three hours to make a deceptive dessert, with the winner of the challenge receiving immunity from the upcoming elimination challenge. During the last five minutes, Gareth's coffee cup cracked and fell apart, and he was forced to present it as is, but it tasted better than it looked. Andy's "Bound For the Bin" and Anna's hot dog were the top two, and since the judges couldn't decide which dessert was better, Andy and Anna both won immunity. 477,000 #10[9]
3/01-3 Tuesday, 14 November 2023 Smashing Desserts Elimination Challenge — Amaury showed a video of him making a piñata out of chocolate. The chefs other than Andy and Anna were given two-and-a-half hours to prepare a smashed dessert. Reynold's "For Snow White", Adriano's interactive egg dessert and Gareth's sugar dome-covered chocolate and mugicha cake with macadamia were deemed the top three and were safe. Kay-Lene's lychee and raspberry meringue and Kirsten's piggy bank were praised by the judges, while Morgan's "Forbidden Fruit" tasted good but lacked refinement. Jess and Rhiann were named the bottom two. Towards the end of the challenge, Jess decided to make a chocolate raspberry disc for her chocolate berry caramel tart, but the smash was underwhelming. Like Kirsten, Rhiann presented a piggy bank; however it was too thick and thus did not smash well and Amaury felt the dessert lacked finesse and refinement. The judges agreed that Jess's flavour combinations were good enough to save her and Rhiann became the first chef to be eliminated. 451,000 8[10]
4/01-4 Wednesday, 15 November 2023 Team Relay — The chefs were split into three teams of three: the Blue team (Gareth, Kay-Lene and Morgan); Green (Andy, Anna and Reynold) and Orange (Adriano, Jess and Kirsten). They had to compose a dessert featuring maple syrup in two-and-a-quarter hours (forty-five minutes per team member), plus an additional thirty seconds to relay the information to the next teammate. Gareth, Anna and Adriano, as the captains and the first to cook for their respective teams, had to conceptualize the dish. The Green team's only problem was Reynold's failure to take Andy's chocolate crumb from the oven. In the Blue team, Kay-Lene struggled with Gareth's choice of dessert and Morgan was confused with the concept and needed more instructions. Meanwhile, the Orange team's Jess struggled with Adriano's abstract concept, and by the last changeover, the team still hadn't defined their concept. Kirsten, the last cook, salvaged it by making a chocolate brownie, and while the dessert was beautifully crafted, it contained too many elements and lacked cohesiveness. The Blue team's pumpkin, maple and pecan dessert was tasty, but it was no match for the Green team's "Textures of Maple and Passionfruit", and Andy, Anna and Reynold won immunity. 372,000 #11[11]
Week 2
5/02-1 Sunday, 19 November 2023 Frozen Mystery Box Elimination Challenge — The chefs besides Andy, Anna and Reynold were presented with a frozen mystery box (the only one this season), which included rosella, chilli, beetroot and berry liqueur. They were tasked with creating a frozen dessert featuring at least one frozen element, in two-and-a-half hours. Kay-Lene's "Lara", inspired by her mentor, Andres Lara, was deemed the best dessert that Amaury tasted so far in the competition and she was declared safe. Kirsten, Gareth and Jess also impressed with their creations, despite Jess burning her first batch of beetroot tuile. The lack of frozen elements in Adriano's mini popcorn carton left the judges unsure whether it met the brief. However Morgan overused the berry liqueur in making the sorbet for his peach Melba. The sorbet, which was the frozen element, melted in front of the judges, sealing Morgan's elimination. 342,000 #12[12]
6/02-2 Monday, 20 November 2023 Chocolate Immunity Challenge — Continuing from the previous episode, Amaury said that he would work all night to make one of his creations, to be unveiled in this episode. The result was a koala sculpture made entirely from chocolate. The chefs were given two-and-a-half to make a sensational chocolate dessert. They produced exemplary desserts, despite some minor criticisms. Gareth and Kirsten were selected as the top two. Gareth's elevated Black Forest tart with Kirsch and vanilla ice cream impressed the judges, but Kirsten's incredible chocolate and coffee caviar with white chocolate Melba toast had the edge, and Kirsten won the final immunity of the season. 449,000 #10[13]
7/02-3 Tuesday, 21 November 2023 Inspired by Cinema Elimination Challenge — The chefs except Kirsten had two-and-a-half hours to create a dessert inspired by one of the movies on the board. Adriano and Gareth selected Grease, Andy chose The Godfather, Reynold picked Star Trek, Jess opted for Transformers, Anna picked Breakfast at Tiffany's and Kay-Lene chose Pretty in Pink. Jess's Humblebee was declared the best and she was safe. Gareth and Andy impressed the judges with their desserts, and while Reynold struggled during the challenge and his dessert lacked his usual finesse, his textures and flavours were deemed flawless and he was also declared safe. The bottom three were Adriano, Anna and Kay-Lene. The concept and flavours of Kay-Lene's pink peppercorn and strawberry pavlova were good, but her champagne jelly was grainy in texture. Anna's high tea was delicious and looked elegant, but the judges argued whether or not she hit the brief. While Adriano's chocolate cup with strawberry ice-cream was delicious, the cup itself had structural issues. Although Adriano's dish was inspired, the time constraint prevented his vision from coming together and he was eliminated. 412,000 #10[14]
Week 3
(Finale Week)
8/03-1 Sunday, 26 November 2023 Christmas Double Elimination ChallengeCurtis Stone entered the MasterChef kitchen as Santa Claus with a bag of goodies, distributing different fruits to the chefs, who were asked to make a Christmas-inspired dessert using the assigned fruit in two hours. The bottom two performers would be sent home. During the challenge, Reynold, who was given passionfruit, struggled with the sugar glass sphere for his Christmas bauble, and he nailed his third sphere, but he caused it to shatter by trying to fill it with cream, forcing him to play his immunity pin and advance to the semi final. Kay-Lene, who received bananas, took a risk by making a roasted banana cake. Despite the cake nearly collapsing, it received praise from all the judges. Assigned raspberries, lemon, and apples respectively, Jess, Kirsten and Gareth also impressed. Andy and Anna's attempts at making a trifle with strawberries and blackberries respectively, had minor errors, with Andy's being criticized for a lack of complexity, particularly in the presentation, and Anna's being criticized for the frozen gel, and her decision to serve it in a champagne glass for the judges was perceived as lacking in generosity. Those errors resulted in their eliminations. 441,000 #7[15]
9/03-2 Monday, 27 November 2023 Semi Final — In a double elimination semi final, the final five chefs were given three hours to create a dessert inspired by nature. Everybody performed well in the challenge, except Kirsten. During the last 10 seconds, her birdcage, which was the most integral element, collapsed, forcing her to serve her chocolate and passionfruit entremet as is. The judges felt that Kirsten's dessert was incomplete and Kay-Lene's was imbalanced, and they were eliminated, leaving Gareth, Jess and Reynold to compete in the grand finale. 471,000 #7[16]
10/03-3 Tuesday, 28 November 2023 Grand Finale — The finalists were tasked with preparing a two-course dessert meal for the judges and 15 guests. They had to serve their first course in four hours. Jess received 12 points for her strawberries and cream dessert (6 points from each judge), and 15 points for her "Pink Petal", finishing in third place with a total of 27. Reynold's "Floral" and "Milk and Honey" scored 15 and 13 points to finish in second place. Gareth's rhubarb tart and chocolate and wattleseed mousse with pistachio and Armagnac earned 17 and 18 points respectively, winning the competition with a total of 35. 465,000 #10[17]
Winner Announced – Gareth Whitton won the Dessert Masters title and $100,000 grand prize. 556,000 #8[17]

Series 2

[edit]
Ep#/Wk-Ep# Original airdate Episode title / event Total viewers Nightly ranking
Week 1
1/01-1 Monday, 14 October 2024 Series Premiere: Your Dessert Masterpiece Secret SOS Box Challenge - Ten new pastry chefs were invited to the MasterChef kitchen to compete for a $100,000 prize and the Dessert Masters title. In their first challenge, they were given three hours to prepare their dessert masterpiece. Jana's "Tunnel Vision" and John's coconut and lime dessert were the top two, and John won the secret SOS box, which would grant him a hidden advantage during a future challenge. 467,000 #10[18]
2/02-2 Monday, 21 October 2024 Movement Immunity Challenge - The chefs had two-and-a-half hours to create a dish featuring movement. All of the desserts were impressive, but the judges were blown away by Christy's Rubik's Cube, and she won immunity. 366,000 #15[19]
3/03-3 Monday, 28 October 2024 Smoke and Mirrors Mystery Box Elimination Challenge - The chefs other than Christy were given two-and-a-half hours to make a deceptive dessert. Jana's Vegemite jar, Alisha's carrot cake with white chocolate cabbage leaves and Darren's avocado toast, which was deemed his best dish so far in the competition, were the top three and safe. The bottom three were Donato, Katherine and Reece. Donato's optical illusion for his dessert was not affected as it could have been. Katherine's desert lime sandcastle cheesecake was bland. Reece's burnt honey cake was dry. This challenge comes down to two main factors: the brief and taste. The judges agreed that no matter how well the contestants met the brief, it always comes down to flavours. Although Katherine's dish met the brief, they couldn't get over those flavours and she was eliminated #13[20]
Week 2
4/02-1 Sunday, 3 November 2024 Team Relay 331,000 #12[21]
5/02-2 Monday, 4 November 2024 Australian Country Classics Elimination Challenge 311,000 #21[22]
Week 3
6/03-1 Sunday, 10 November 2024 Theatre Immunity Challenge 299,000 #13[23]
7/03-2 Monday, 11 November 2024 Culinary Techniques Elimination Challenge 369,000 #16[24]
Week 4
8/04-1 Sunday, 17 November 2024 Fizzy Drink Mystery Box Elimination Challenge 353,000 #13[25]
9/04-2 Monday, 18 November 2024 Semi Final 349,000 #15[26]
Week 5
(Grand Finale)
10/05-1 Sunday, 24 November 2024 Grand Finale 415,000 #15[27]

Adaptations

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Brazil

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A Brazilian version of the series was commissioned in August 2024, named MasterChef Confeitaria, the series will be produced by Endemol Shine Brasil and will premiere on Band.[28][29]

See also

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Dessert Masters, officially titled MasterChef: Dessert Masters, is an Australian reality television cooking competition series specializing in desserts, where professional pastry chefs, chocolatiers, and baking experts compete in creative challenges to win the title of Dessert Master and a $100,000 prize. The show premiered on Network 10 on 12 November 2023, produced by Endemol Shine Australia, and features an all-star cast of contestants drawn from acclaimed culinary backgrounds, including past participants from MasterChef Australia. The series is hosted and judged by culinary personalities Melissa Leong, a food writer and television presenter known for her role on MasterChef Australia, and Amaury Guichon, a French-Swiss pastry chef renowned for his innovative chocolate sculptures and global fame via social media. Each season pits 10 contestants against one another in high-pressure tasks, such as recreating signature desserts, invention tests with unconventional ingredients, and multi-course plated finales, emphasizing precision, creativity, and flavor balance in pastry arts. As of November 2025, two seasons have aired: the inaugural 2023 season, won by Gareth Whitton of Victoria, who impressed with his technical prowess in a grand finale featuring a two-course ; and the 2024 season, claimed by John Demetrios, a Sydney-based expert, after outperforming finalists and Christy Tania in a similarly intense conclusion. The program has garnered acclaim for elevating craftsmanship on Australian television, attracting viewers with its blend of spectacle—such as smashed domes and vegetable-inspired sweets—and educational insights into professional patisserie techniques.

Premise and format

Competition structure

Dessert Masters is structured as a 10-episode competition featuring ten professional chefs who compete in the kitchen to be crowned Australia's Dessert Master and win a $100,000 prize. The format unfolds over episodes, typically airing Sundays and Mondays on Channel 10, with contestants facing a series of high-pressure, dessert-focused challenges that emphasize patisserie, work, and innovative sweet creations. These challenges progressively eliminate participants until a single winner emerges, building tension through individual and team-based tasks that mirror the intensity of the parent series but with an exclusive focus on desserts. The core challenges draw from established competitive baking formats, including signature bakes where contestants showcase their personal specialties to demonstrate originality; technical challenges that require precise replication of intricate recipes under time constraints; and showstopper desserts, which demand elaborate, multi-component pieces highlighting advanced techniques like tempering or layered patisserie. Episodes often incorporate invention tests, where limited ingredients must be transformed into cohesive desserts, and pressure tests involving masterclasses or replications of guest experts' signatures, all designed to push technical proficiency and innovation. Team relays and service challenges, such as preparing multi-course dessert menus, add collaborative elements in select weeks, while finales feature extended formats like two- or three-course showdowns. Judging evaluates entries based on creativity, taste, presentation, and technical skill, with the lowest performers facing elimination each week to narrow the field from ten to the final three or four before crowning the champion. A distinctive element is the inclusion of international guest judges alongside the core judges, featuring collaborations and masterclasses from global icons in targeted episodes, infusing diverse perspectives and elevated standards into the proceedings. This structure ensures a rigorous progression, rewarding those who excel in both precision and artistry across the season.

Hosts and judges

Melissa Leong serves as the primary host and judge on Dessert Masters, bringing her extensive experience as a freelance food writer, , and former judge on from 2020 to 2023. In her role, Leong guides contestants through the competition's challenges, provides insightful commentary on their creations, and narrates key moments to highlight the artistry and technique involved in dessert making. Her background in recipe editing, production, and media consulting equips her to offer balanced feedback that emphasizes both flavor profiles and presentation. Amaury Guichon, a French-Swiss and , co-judges alongside Leong, renowned for his intricate chocolate sculptures that have garnered millions of views on . Guichon's expertise in patisserie and chocolate work, honed through training in top French kitchens and his role as executive at , allows him to evaluate contestants' technical skills and innovative designs with precision. He returned for the second series in 2024, continuing to contribute his international perspective on advanced techniques. The judging panel is occasionally joined by guest judges in specific episodes, featuring international and Australian pastry experts such as celebrity chef , who appeared in Series 1 to assess holiday-themed challenges. These guests provide specialized insights into themes like chocolate mastery or plated desserts, enhancing the competition's focus on diverse culinary influences.

Production

Development and commissioning

Dessert Masters was conceived as a spin-off from the established format, focusing exclusively on and specialists to capitalize on the popularity of specialized cooking competitions. Produced by , a Banijay company, the series was commissioned by as part of its strategy to diversify its unscripted content lineup following adjustments to the main program, including a reduced episode count in 2023 to allocate resources toward new formats like this dessert-centric show. The show was formally announced at Network 10's upfronts in October 2022, positioning it for a 2023 launch in the MasterChef Australia kitchen with 10 professional contestants vying for a $100,000 prize. This initial commissioning reflected Network 10's pivot toward niche culinary series amid broader changes in the MasterChef franchise, such as judge transitions, to refresh audience engagement with baking and patisserie themes. Marketing efforts emphasized tie-ins with major sponsors like Coles, a key MasterChef backer that extended its support to promote baking products through the show, alongside retailer for integrated promotions. Anticipating strong performance, greenlit a second series in October 2023, prior to the series 1 premiere on November 12, 2023, with returning judges and confirmed to maintain continuity. Series 2 aired in October 2024, but by late 2024, declining ratings compared to the debut season—averaging lower viewership in key demographics—led to the decision against renewal. This was officially confirmed during 's 2025 upfronts in November 2025, signaling no third series amid a shift to other reality formats.

Filming and production details

The primary filming location for Dessert Masters was Centenary Hall at the Melbourne Showgrounds in Ascot Vale, Victoria, a studio adapted from the sets used for MasterChef Australia to accommodate dessert-focused challenges. Production for Series 1 took place in mid-2023, spanning approximately 6-8 weeks ahead of its November premiere, while Series 2 was filmed in mid-to-late 2024 over a similar timeframe prior to its October premiere. The crew was led by , featuring directors and producers with extensive experience in , including veterans from the franchise, and emphasized high-production food to capture intricate preparations. Technical elements included multi-camera setups for dynamic coverage, specialized to enhance the visual appeal of desserts' textures and colors, and focused on maintaining a brisk pacing suitable for the competitive format.

Series overview

Series 1 (2023)

Dessert Masters Series 1 premiered on November 12, 2023, on in , consisting of 10 episodes that aired primarily on weekday evenings over three weeks, culminating in the grand finale on November 28, 2023. The season introduced professional pastry chefs to a competitive format emphasizing dessert innovation, with challenges progressing from foundational patisserie skills to complex, creations that tested creativity, precision, and flavor balance. The overall theme centered on elevating dessert mastery, featuring invention tests, pressure cookers, and team challenges that highlighted techniques like work, artistry, and multi-component plating, building tension through progressive eliminations. Key season arcs included the adaptation of the MasterChef-style format to a desserts-only focus, with adjustments to time constraints and judging criteria to accommodate intricate builds, as seen in the shift toward more service-oriented finales in later episodes. The competition concluded with Whitton emerging as the champion after the top three finalists—Whitton, Jess Liemantara, and Reynold Poernomo—competed in a high-stakes two-course service, where Whitton was awarded the $100,000 prize in an emotional ceremony. Viewership for the season averaged approximately 500,000 national viewers per episode, with a peak of 744,000 for the November 27 elimination episode, reflecting strong engagement during critical moments. The grand finale drew 556,000 viewers, underscoring the season's appeal through aggregate highlights such as standout chocolate-themed challenges and innovative dessert spectacles that captivated audiences without prior culinary competition experience.

Series 2 (2024)

The second season of Dessert Masters premiered on October 14, 2024, on , featuring 10 episodes that introduced minor format tweaks such as refined challenge structures to heighten competitive tension among the professional chefs. The season built on the inaugural outing by incorporating more special guest judges to provide diverse expertise, including notable pastry professionals who evaluated intricate creations during key rounds. This installment evolved the thematic focus with a pronounced emphasis on chocolate artistry, leveraging the expertise of judge , an international known for his sculptural techniques, alongside challenges that highlighted smashable chocolate domes and temperature-controlled confections. International influences were woven in through Guichon's Swiss-French perspective, inspiring desserts that blended global flavors like exotic fruits and with Australian ingredients, fostering innovative hybrids that showcased cultural fusion in pastry work. The season culminated in the grand finale on November 24, 2024, where John Demetrios was announced as the winner, securing the $100,000 prize for his precise, flavor-forward plated desserts that impressed the judges with their technical mastery after outperforming finalists and Christy Tania. Post-season, Demetrios leveraged his victory into high-profile opportunities, including a guest judging role on in 2025, amplifying his influence in the culinary scene and highlighting the show's role in elevating emerging talents. As the final season, which appears to be the last as it was not included in Network 10's announced 2026 programming slate amid shifting programming priorities and viewership trends, Dessert Masters season 2 solidified the format's legacy by demonstrating refined high-stakes pastry competition and inspiring a new wave of chocolate-centric innovation in Australian desserts.

Contestants

Series 1 contestants

The first season of Dessert Masters featured ten professional pastry chefs and dessert specialists from across , blending established names from the culinary scene with rising talents. The contestants hailed from regions including Victoria, , and , showcasing a mix of fine-dining experience, innovative patisserie, and chocolate expertise. Their diverse backgrounds included former participants, award-winning chocolatiers, and boutique bakery owners, all competing under the high-pressure format judged by and . Gareth Whitton, the season's winner, entered the competition as the co-founder and head of Tarts Anon, a Melbourne-based specialty bakery he launched in 2020 during the . With over a decade in fine-dining kitchens, including stints at renowned venues, Whitton specialized in intricate and plated desserts, drawing inspiration from classical French techniques adapted to modern Australian flavors. His victory earned him the $100,000 prize, which he has since invested in expanding Tarts Anon and releasing a debut featuring 50 recipes in 2024. Runner-up Reynold Poernomo, aged 28 from , brought his signature alchemical style to the competition, honed as co-owner of Dessert Bar in Sydney's Chippendale. An Indonesian-Australian chef who gained fame as a fan-favorite contestant on MasterChef Australia seasons 7 (2015) and 12 (2020), Poernomo is renowned for experimental desserts like molecular gastronomy-inspired creations using everyday ingredients such as bananas and avocados. Post-show, he continued innovating at , focusing on experiential sweets that blend Asian influences with contemporary patisserie. Securing third place was Jess Liemantara, a 24-year-old Victorian known professionally as Jess Lemon, who competed on seasons 10 (2018) and 12 (2020). Specializing in vegan and plant-based desserts, Liemantara served as head of innovation and development at Ned's Bake in , where she developed chiffon cakes and gel-based sweets using alternative ingredients like sorbet and thyme tuille. Her post-competition trajectory included dessert recipes and collaborating on ethical baking projects. The full cohort included:
  • Adriano Zumbo, a Sydney-based patissier famous for his multi-layered and owner of Adriano Zumbo Patisserie, inspired by his Italian-Australian heritage.
  • Andy Bowdy (Andrew Bowden), a performer-turned-pastry artist known for theatrical desserts under his .
  • Anna Polyviou, a powerhouse who began her career at Sofitel in 2001 and won Best Apprentice in Victoria.
  • Kay-Lene Tan, a 29-year-old Victorian with expertise in molded confections.
  • Kirsten Tibballs, a world-champion from Victoria, dubbed "The Queen" for her Savour Chocolate & Patisserie School.
  • Morgan Hipworth, a -based specialist and owner of the award-winning Gelato Messina.
  • Rhiann Mead, a pastry chef trained under Peter Gilmore at Quay, with experience at and Harrods Food Halls in .
ContestantPlacementElimination Date
Gareth WhittonWinner28 November 2023
Reynold PoernomoRunner-up28 November 2023
Jess LiemantaraThird place28 November 2023
Kay-Lene Tan4th–5th27 November 2023
4th–5th27 November 2023
Andy Bowdy6th–7th26 November 2023
Anna Polyviou6th–7th26 November 2023
8th21 November 2023
Morgan Hipworth9th19 November 2023
Rhiann Mead10th14 November 2023
Several contestants brought unique inspirations to the competition, reflecting their personal journeys. For instance, Rhiann Mead, aged in her late 20s, shifted from a planned physiotherapy career to patisserie after a gap-year stint at London's , emphasizing precision in her fine-dining s. Adriano , motivated by the birth of his son Maximus in October 2023, aimed to showcase family-oriented sweets, drawing from his role as a frequent guest judge. Post-elimination, many pursued expansions: Morgan Hipworth, eliminated after a melted mishap, returned to innovating flavors at Gelato Messina, while Anna Polyviou continued mentoring young apprentices through her workshops. The cohort's ages ranged from 24 to over 40, highlighting intergenerational expertise in Australia's landscape.

Series 2 contestants

The second season of Dessert Masters featured 10 accomplished pastry chefs and dessert specialists from diverse backgrounds, including professionals with fine-dining experience, artisanal bakers, and innovative cake designers, reflecting a mix of Australian and international influences such as Greek, Italian, and Asian heritage. The contestants were Alisha Henderson, Christy Tania, Dan Pasquali, , Donato Toce, , Jana Lai, John Demetrios, Katherine Sabbath, and Reece Hignell.
ContestantPlacementBackground and Expertise
John DemetriosWinnerMelbourne-based with fine-dining experience at Michelin-starred restaurants like Vue de Monde and Omnia; specializes in intricate, flavor-forward desserts inspired by his Greek heritage.
Runner-up2015 winner and professional ; known for elegant, balanced desserts and author of cookbooks like First, Cream the Butter and Sugar; brings expertise in classical patisserie.
Christy TaniaThird placeOwner of artisanal dessert store GLACÉ in ; focuses on refined, modern pastries with a emphasis on texture and presentation.
Jana Lai4thRunner-up on ; home baker turned professional with strengths in Asian-fusion desserts and delicate pastries.
Reece Hignell5th known for techniques, including foams and spheres in avant-garde desserts.
Alisha Henderson6thCreator of Sweet Bakes, specializing in custom celebration cakes with intricate and .
7thCo-owner of Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio; expert in contemporary patisserie and chocolate work with global flavors.
Dan Pasquali8thFine-dining with a focus on seasonal, minimalist desserts.
Donato Toce9thItalian-Australian specializing in traditional European techniques, including and layered tortes.
Katherine Sabbath10thFormer high school teacher turned cake designer; renowned for vibrant, sculptural cakes with pop influences and bold aesthetics.
The season's eliminations progressed with double exits in early rounds, narrowing the field through pressure tests and team challenges, culminating in a finale where John Demetrios emerged victorious with a score surpassing his competitors. John Demetrios, the winner, drew on his extensive fine-dining background, having accelerated through a and led pastry teams at acclaimed venues, to craft desserts that balanced technical precision with bold flavors. Among the eliminated, Reece Hignell showcased innovations, while Katherine Sabbath emphasized sculptural cake artistry, and Donato Toce highlighted Italian classics. Post-show, Demetrios invested his $100,000 prize into opening Butter Days, a community-focused bakery in with his wife, emphasizing accessible yet sophisticated sweets; he also guest-challenged contestants on in 2025. continued promoting her cookbooks and appeared as a guest on , while Katherine Sabbath released content tied to her homeownership journey and baking philosophy. Several others, like , leveraged the exposure for workshops at their studios.

Episodes

Series 1 episodes

The first season of featured 10 episodes that aired on from November 12 to November 28, 2023, showcasing professional chefs competing in creative challenges judged by and . The format included immunity challenges to grant safety in subsequent rounds, team tasks, pressure tests, and eliminations, with twists like double eliminations in later episodes and a by during the Christmas-themed challenge. Key outcomes determined weekly progress, with immunities providing strategic advantages and eliminations reducing the field from 10 contestants to three finalists. Viewership began strongly at 477,000 for the and peaked at 718,000 for the finale, reflecting growing audience engagement tied to high-stakes innovations. Episode 1: Your Dessert Masterpiece Immunity Pin Challenge (November 12, 2023)
Ten of Australia's top chefs entered the kitchen to create signature masterpieces in three hours, competing for the season's only immunity pin. Reynold Poernomo's "" , featuring layered chocolate and pear elements, was praised as flawless by the judges, earning him immunity from the first elimination. No elimination occurred, allowing all contestants to advance. The episode introduced the competitors and set the tone for technical precision in artistry, drawing 477,000 national viewers.
Episode 2: Deception Immunity Challenge (November 13, 2023)
The chefs had three hours to craft deceptive desserts that mimicked everyday objects, inspired by Amaury Guichon's lifelike sculptures, with the winner gaining immunity from the upcoming elimination. Anna Polyviou's hot dog-themed dessert, complete with chocolate mousse "sausage" and "fries," impressed the judges for its realism and flavor balance, securing her immunity. No elimination took place, building tension for the first cut while highlighting illusion techniques in patisserie.
Episode 3: Smashing Desserts Elimination Challenge (November 14, 2023)
In the first elimination round, contestants had two hours to produce "smashable" desserts inspired by Amaury Guichon's , designed to be built up and dramatically broken down for visual impact. Reynold Poernomo, , and Gareth Whitton delivered top performances with structurally sound yet destructible creations. Rhiann Mead was eliminated after her proved too thick to crack easily, despite reinforcements, landing her in the bottom with Liemantara. The episode emphasized in desserts and attracted strong demo ratings among 25-54 viewers.
Episode 4: Relay Team Challenge (November 15, 2023)
The remaining nine chefs were divided into three teams of three for a challenge requiring them to pass off components in sequence, incorporating as the hero ingredient across multi-stage dessert builds. The task tested collaboration and timing, with teams presenting cohesive plated desserts after handoffs. No elimination occurred, but the winning team gained an advantage in the next round; specific team outcomes underscored the importance of seamless transitions in group patisserie work.
Episode 5: Mystery Box Elimination Challenge (November 19, 2023)
Chefs excluding those with prior immunities (Anna Polyviou, Reynold Poernomo, and Andy Bowdy) faced a frozen mystery box, selecting from ingredients like , berry liquor, or to incorporate into a element within three hours. Morgan Hipworth was eliminated for a melting that lacked structural integrity and flavor cohesion, marking the second departure and narrowing the field to eight. The challenge highlighted in frozen desserts.
Episode 6: Chocolate Pressure Test (November 20, 2023)
The eight remaining contestants tackled a -focused pressure test, requiring intricate tempering and molding techniques to recreate complex structures under time constraints. The challenge intensified competition among dessert specialists, with outcomes determining safety for the next round, including an immunity for the winner. No elimination occurred, but it served as a pivotal demonstration leading into themed eliminations.
Episode 7: Inspired by Cinema Elimination Challenge (November 21, 2023)
Contestants drew inspiration from classic films to create desserts in 2.5 hours, excluding one safe chef, focusing on thematic elements like visual storytelling through plating and flavors. was eliminated after structural issues and time constraints compromised his cinematic tribute, a shocking exit for the renowned . The explored narrative in dessert design.
Episode 8: Christmas Double Elimination Challenge (November 26, 2023)
With holiday themes, the chefs had three hours to craft Christmas desserts meaningful to them, incorporating surprise ingredients delivered by guest as . The double elimination twist removed two contestants—Anna Polyviou and Andy Bowdy—for dishes lacking festive innovation and execution, heightening drama in the quarterfinals.
Episode 9: Semi Final Double Elimination (November 27, 2023)
The final five competed in a high-pressure three-hour nature-inspired challenge to secure a grand finale spot, with two advancing directly and three facing further judgment. Kay-Lene Tan and Kirsten Tibballs were eliminated in the double cut after their desserts fell short in creativity and technical finesse, leaving Reynold Poernomo, Jess Liemantara, and Gareth Whitton for the finale. The episode delivered peak tension with its decisive outcomes.
Episode 10: Grand Finale (November 28, 2023)
The three finalists prepared a two-course menu in a service-style challenge, showcasing their signature styles under pressure. Whitton won the $100,000 prize with scores of 35/40 for balanced innovation and execution, outpacing runner-up Reynold Poernomo and third-place Liemantara. The episode concluded the season with a celebration of dessert mastery, viewed by 718,000.

Series 2 episodes

The second season of , which premiered on 14 2024 on , featured 10 episodes airing primarily on Mondays at 7:30 pm AEST, with some adjustments to Sundays toward the end of the run. This season introduced refined challenge formats, including a creation, building on the individual-focused competitions of Series 1 to emphasize collaboration under pressure. Standout moments included elaborate production elements like a live circus performance and guest masterclasses, which heightened the theatricality and showcased evolving production values compared to the inaugural season's more straightforward setup. The season's eliminations progressively narrowed the field of 10 professional pastry chefs, with the first departure in Episode 3 and intensifying from there, culminating in a double elimination in the semi-finals before the grand finale.
EpisodeAir DateTheme/ChallengeKey Results and Elimination
114 October 2024Your Secret Box ChallengeTen contestants created signature desserts using mystery ingredients; no elimination. Immunity pin awarded to standout performer.
221 October 2024Movement Immunity ChallengeContestants designed kinetic desserts inspired by motion; immunity pin awarded, no elimination. Standout: Christy Tania's innovative Rubik's Cube-inspired structure.
328 October 2024 Mystery BoxFirst elimination challenge with illusion-themed ingredients; Katherine Sabbath eliminated for mismatched flavors despite solid technique.
43 November 2024Team Relay New format: Teams rotated stations to build multi-component desserts; immunity for top team, no elimination. Highlighted collaboration, with John Demetrios noted for precise execution.
54 November 2024Country Classics EliminationContestants reimagined Australian classics like lamingtons and pavlovas; Donato Toce eliminated for unbalanced flavors under time pressure.
610 November 2024Circus Immunity ChallengeInspired by performance, contestants created theatrical circus-themed desserts; immunity awarded, no elimination. Unique moment: Elaborate aerial displays integrated into the kitchen set.
711 November 2024 Signature Techniques EliminationMasterclass on techniques like chocolate carnations and drill piping; Daniel Pasquali eliminated for inconsistent application of dipping.
817 November 2024Bubble Over Box EliminationDouble elimination; contestants created bubble-inspired desserts incorporating fizzy drinks; Alisha Henderson and eliminated—Alisha for weak structural elements, Darren for overly complex chocolate mousse lacking cohesion.
918 November 2024Story-Inspired Semi-Final EliminationDouble elimination based on personal narratives translated into desserts; Reece Hignell and Jana Lai eliminated—Reece for subdued flavors, Jana for execution flaws despite emotional depth. Top three: John Demetrios, , Christy Tania advanced.
1024 November 2024Grand FinaleTop three created two-course green-and-gold themed meals; John Demetrios won with 38/40 score for innovative pavlova and , earning $100,000; (36/40) and Christy Tania runners-up.

Reception

Critical response

Critics have praised Dessert Masters for its innovative focus on pastry arts and desserts, elevating the genre in mainstream television through high-level techniques and creative challenges. The show's judging panel, featuring food critic and chocolatier , has been highlighted for its strong chemistry, with Guichon noting that their rapport developed instantaneously and describing Leong as "so lovely." This dynamic added appeal, balancing expertise with warmth during critiques. Early episodes of series 1 drew some criticism for pacing issues, with the condensed format occasionally rushing eliminations and limiting deeper exploration of contestants' processes, leading to comparisons with the more expansive MasterChef structure. However, reviewers appreciated the visual spectacle of elaborate desserts, such as intricate chocolate sculptures and multi-component plates. As of 2025, Dessert Masters has not received notable awards or nominations in culinary television categories.

Viewership ratings

The first season of Dessert Masters premiered on 12 November 2023 to 477,000 viewers across Australia's five major cities, marking a strong debut for the Network 10 program. Subsequent episodes maintained solid but slightly declining numbers, with the second episode drawing 451,000 viewers and a mid-season chocolate-themed installment attracting 429,000. The semi-final episode on 27 November achieved 471,000 viewers, reflecting sustained interest in the competition's high-stakes challenges. Overall, the season averaged around 450,000 viewers per episode in overnight metro ratings, with the finale contributing to a total national reach of 5.6 million unique viewers across linear and streaming platforms. The second season, which aired from 14 2024, experienced lower viewership, averaging approximately 350,000 viewers per amid stiffer competition from established reality formats like The Block and on rival networks. Representative episodes included a 28 installment with 372,000 viewers and a 11 drawing 349,000, showing a consistent but reduced audience compared to the prior year. These figures were bolstered by streaming performance on 10 Play, where additional viewership helped offset linear declines and contributed to broader engagement. Demographically, Dessert Masters demonstrated strong appeal among food programming enthusiasts in the 25-54 age group, topping its timeslot in that during multiple episodes of the first season, including under-50s and 16-39s viewers. This alignment with affluent, cooking-interested audiences underscored its niche success within the culinary reality genre. In comparison to its parent series , which routinely averages over 1 million viewers per episode and peaks above 2 million for finales, Dessert Masters drew significantly smaller audiences. As of May 2025, the show was reported to be set for a third season.

International distribution

Adaptations

In August 2024, Banijay announced the first international adaptation of the Dessert Masters format for , titled , produced by for broadcaster Band. The series retains the core structure of the original Australian competition, featuring professional pastry chefs competing in challenges focused on desserts, but incorporates regional influences such as traditional Brazilian sweets like brigadeiros and party confections in mystery box and team tests. The Brazilian version premiered on Band on November 19, 2024, hosted by Ana Paula Padrão with judges Henrique Fogaça, , Diego Lozano, and Érick Jacquin, and quickly led to a second season that began airing on September 9, 2025. As of November 2025, no additional adaptations beyond have been announced by Banijay or its partners.

Broadcasts

In the , Series 1 of Dessert Masters premiered on the ad-supported streaming service UKTV Play in late October 2024, with Series 2 following availability shortly thereafter. Both seasons are also accessible via subscription on in the region. The series has been distributed to the through , where both seasons are available for streaming. In , both seasons are available on-demand via , with Season 2 premiering on linear TV on on January 6, 2025. As of November 2025, international access remains primarily through these platforms, with no availability reported on or other major global services in select markets. , the original broadcaster, has not announced specific partnerships for subtitled versions in or beyond existing streaming licenses. No reruns of the Australian series have been scheduled internationally.

References

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